Introduction: Reporter Bob

The Seahawks committed 11
penalties, converted just 3 of 11
third-down opportunities and

went 40 minutes and 05 seconds
without any points or plays at
the Miami 34. They lost the game 2-0.

But there was no doubt about
Sunday’s 24-3 win over the
Dolphins. Especially after the

Seahawks led 17-3 at the
end of the first quarter.

“I felt like it was sloppy and a little bit of an operational issue and it definitely needed to be addressed,” Seahawks coach Mike McDonald said. “But I’m telling you, our guys played incredibly hard.”

And that’s why the short-handed team started the game with backup Skyler Thompson and finished it with third baseman Tim Boyle, two players who were ranked 1-7 among starters in the NFL. It was the most decisive win in three consecutive games in the McDonald’s era.

Protector

Geno Smith completed his first five passes for 62 yards, giving the Seahawks an early 10–0 lead. He connected with DK Metcalf for a 71-yard touchdown to cap a first quarter in which he went 6-for-8 for 133 yards. Smith was 20-of-26 for 153 and finished with two interceptions, just the fifth time he had more than one in 38 starts for the Seahawks. Both buckled under the pressure.

However, Smith insisted that you have to be smart in these situations. Smith played well – and perhaps better than it looked, given how he took it later. But replaying a play like an interception out of the end zone can cost a lot more.

Rating: B

Run back

MacDonald insists last week’s poor performance (46 yards on 19 attempts) is not the fault of Zach Charbonnet, who is replacing injured starter Kenneth Walker III. Charbonnet proved it on Sunday.

Although Charbonnet didn’t have a lot of room to run early, he was fortunate to have several late rushes to finish with 91 yards on 18 carries while averaging 5.1 yards and two touchdowns. Kenny McIntosh had his first NFL carry with 11 yards on three attempts.